Too means more than enough, or so much that something else happens as a result.

456. Very and Much

(a) Very

Don’t say: He’s a much strong man.

It’s a much interesting book.

√ Say: He’s a very strong man.

It’s a very interesting book.

(b) Much

Don’t say: He’s very stronger than I am.

√ Say: He’s much stronger than I am.

Use very with adjectives and adverbs in the positive, and with present participles used as adjectives like interesting. Use much with comparative.

457. Too much for Very much

Don’t say: She likes the cinema too much.

He’s too much stronger than I am.

√ Say: She likes the cinema very much.

He’s very much stronger than I am.

Use very much instead of much for greater emphasis

Too much denotes an excessive quantity or degree –> She ate too much, and felt ill.

458. Before for Ago

Don’t say: I saw your friend before two weeks.

√ Say: I saw your friend two weeks ago.

We use ago in counting from the time of speaking to a point in the past: half an hour ago, three days ago, four months ago, five years ago, a long time ago. We use before in counting from a distant to a nearer point in the past –> Napoleon died in 1821, he had lost the battle of Waterloo six years before.

Note:When we use ago the verb is always in the simple past tense –> He came five minutes ago.

459. Hardly for Hard

Don’t say: She rubbed her eyes hardly.

√ Say: She rubbed her eyes hard.

Hard means severely.

Hardly means not quite or scarcely. –> The baby can hardly walk.

460. No so for Not very

Don’t say: I hear that he’s not so rich.

√ Say: I hear that he’s not very rich.

We can’t use not so in the sense of not very. The expression “He’s not so rich.” implies a comparison “He’s not so rich as you are.”

461. Just now for Presently, etc.

Don’t say: The messenger will arrive just now.

√ Say: The messenger will arrive presently.

If we are speaking of a near and immediate future time, we must use presently, immediately, in a minute, or soon.

Just now refers to present or past time, and net lo future time –> He’s not at home just now (= at this moment). He left just now (= a little time ago)

462. Presently for At present

Don’t say: His uncle is in London presently.

✓ Say: His uncle is in London at present.

At present and presently are not synonymous.

At present means now but presently means soon –> She will come back presently (= soon).

463. Scarcely for Rarely

Don’t say: Zoe scarcely comes to see me now.

✓ Say: Zoe rarely comes to see me now.

Scarcely isn’t synonymous with rarely.

Rarely means not often, scarcely means not quite –> I had scarcely finished when he came.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

− 4 =

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

" IELTSGeneral.Net is a brand new blog dedicated to bringing the IELTS General Community together. It offers you free IELTS Materials/ Books/Tips, Helps, Advice, Interactive Forum about IELTS General Training Module.From these pages I hope you can maximize your IELTS score.
Thanks for dropping by IELTS General blog and we sincerely hope you soon feel at home here with us and get the IELTS score you need and deserve!"IELTS General Team.

Get more stuff

Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.

More Stories

About The Site

IELTSGeneral.Net is a brand new blog dedicated to bringing the IELTS General Community together. It offers you free IELTS Materials/ Books/Tips, Helps, Advice, Interactive Forum about IELTS General Training Module.

From these pages I hope you can maximize your IELTS score.

Thanks for dropping by IELTS General blog and we sincerely hope you soon feel at home here with us and get the IELTS score you need and deserve!